Alcantara Sofa
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
2010s Sofas
Fabric
20th Century English Chesterfield Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Sofas
Aluminum, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Sofas
Aluminum, Steel
2010s Sofas
Suede
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Sofas
Aluminum, Steel
2010s Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
2010s Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Sofas
Chrome
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric, Ultrasuede, Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Textile, Wood
Early 20th Century British Sofas
1990s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Beech, Fabric, Foam
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Modern Sofas
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Beech
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Suede
Early 2000s French Organic Modern Sofas
Foam
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sectional Sofas
Upholstery
1990s French Post-Modern Sofas
Suede, Foam
Early 2000s French Organic Modern Sofas
Foam
Early 2000s French Organic Modern Sofas
Foam
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Wood
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
Vintage 1980s Sofas
Ultrasuede
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Early 2000s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Foam
2010s Sofas
Suede
Late 20th Century Unknown Sectional Sofas
Fabric
Vintage 1980s French Sectional Sofas
Fabric
Early 2000s French Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Suede, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Sectional Sofas
Fabric
Vintage 1970s French Modern Sofas
Polystyrene
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam
1990s French Post-Modern Sofas
Suede, Foam
1990s French Post-Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede, Foam
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Synthetic, Foam
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric
20th Century English Art Deco Sofas
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Fiberglass
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Fiberglass
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Suede
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Sofas
Suede
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Sofas
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chaise Longues
Metal
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Foam, Suede
Early 2000s French Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
Foam
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Living Room Sets
1990s English Art Deco Living Room Sets
Leather, Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Living Room Sets
Leather, Walnut
2010s French Sofas
Suede, Fabric
Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Early 2000s French Organic Modern Sofas
Foam
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede, Foam
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
2010s American Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Color Photography
Plexiglass, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photographic Film
Vintage 1970s Czech Industrial More Clocks
Aluminum, Iron
Vintage 1950s Italian Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pillows and Throws
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Mid-20th Century French Platters and Serveware
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century German Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Cabinets
Wood, Lacquer
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Minimalist Sofas
Rattan
Vintage 1980s English Neoclassical Porcelain
Porcelain
Vintage 1930s Belgian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s American Modern Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Barware
Glass, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Alcantara Sofa For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Alcantara Sofa?
Finding the Right Sofas for You
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique or vintage sofas, today’s couch connoisseurs have much to choose from in terms of style and shape. But it wasn’t always thus.
The sofa is typically defined as a long upholstered seat that features a back and arms and is intended for two or more people. While the term “couch” comes from the Old French couche, meaning to lie down, and sofa has Eastern origins, both are forms of divan, a Turkish word that means an elongated cushioned seat. Bench-like seating in Ancient Greece, which was padded with soft blankets, was called klinai. No matter how you spell it, sofa just means comfort, at least it does today.
In the early days of sofa design, upholstery consisted of horsehair or dried moss. Sofas that originated in countries such as France during the 17th century were more integral to decor than they were to comfort. Like most Baroque furnishings from the region, they frequently comprised heavy, gilded mahogany frames and were upholstered in floral Beauvais tapestry. Today, options abound when it comes to style and material, with authentic leather offerings and classy steel settees. Plush, velvet chesterfields represent the platonic ideal of coziness.
Vladimir Kagan’s iconic sofa designs, such as the Crescent and the Serpentine — which, like the sectional sofas of the 1960s created by furniture makers such as Harvey Probber, are quite popular among mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — showcase the spectrum of style available to modern consumers. Those looking to make a statement can turn to Studio 65’s lip-shaped Bocca sofa, which was inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí. Elsewhere, the furniture of the 1970s evokes an era when experimentation ruled, or at least provided a reason to break the rules. Just about every area of society felt a sudden urge to be wayward, to push boundaries — and buttons. Vintage leather sofas of that decade are characterized by a rare blending of the showy and organic.
With so many options, it’s important to explore and find the perfect furniture for your space. Paying attention to the lines of the cushions as well as the flow from the backrest into the arms is crucial to identifying a cohesive new piece for your home or office.
Fortunately, with styles from every era — and even round sofas — there’s a luxurious piece for every space. Deck out your living room with an Art Deco lounge or go retro with a nostalgic '80s design. No matter your sitting vision, the right piece is waiting for you in the expansive collection of unique sofas on 1stDibs.
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